6 HLN - HOME LIVING: NORTH, Tuesday, August 9, 2011
HOMELIVING
Highlight your best features
WATER features make great
additions to pools and gardens.
Whether you want to set up a
small feature or build something
bold, it pays to do some
research.
The term water feature
encompasses a raft of
possibilities.
Specialist businesses can design
and install your feature or, if
you're handy and watching
your wallet, you can opt for a
complete DIY job or choose
something ready-made from a
home centre or garden store.
NSW Swimming Pool and Spa
Association CEO Spiros Dassakis
says water features are the
answer to garden chic and the
designs are limited only by your
imagination.
''From fountains, urns, spheres,
ponds, sculptures and rockeries
to water walls, water features
are making a big splash,'' he
said.
It's important to plan your water
feature to perfection.
Location, location
Before excavating for a pond or
large water feature, confirm the
location of utility lines.
Avoid placing it beneath trees
which will fill it with leaves and
debris.
If installing a spray fountain,
place it in a spot that's
protected
from the wind.
Scale, proportion and style
The style should reflect your
home and garden.
A water feature that mimics
shapes found in nature will work
well in an informal setting while
something bold, steel and
sculptural will take an
architectural style to a whole
new level.
Material
Water features can be made
from many different materials,
including stainless steel, glass,
copper, acrylic, concrete and
stone.
With stone, you have the choice
of natural stones such as granite
or sandstone, or reproduction
stone that mimics natural stone.
Money matters
Even if it's a DIY job, the cost of
building a water feature can
add up.
Plan ahead so that you don't run
into expensive problems down
the track.
Shaken or stirred
Do you want the whisper of
moving water or a Zen-like still-
water garden? Moving water
requires a power source to run
the pump and, although most
pumps must be wired to
conventional 120V circuits, low-
voltage versions are available
for some types of small pumps.
Details: www.spasa.org.au.
PERMISSION SLIP
Get any permits required by law or
your local council. These may deter-
mine the distance from property
boundaries, safety precautions, water
or energy-saving features or design
specifications. Each council will have
varying regulations so a quick phone
call will have you in the know.
SAFETY FIRST
Evaluate the risks: Young children can
drown in only a few inches of water,
so be sure your water feature doesn't
pose a risk to their safety. For safety
around children, the water feature
should not contain more than a few
centimetres of water and be located
where it cannot be approached by
small children. Even better, opt for a
wall or pedestal fountain that is
completely out of a child's reach.
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